Chapter 15 / Family

June 18th 15.001.  

Velmore City, Umbra [Vampire Continent]

The convoy crawled through a small mountain pass as night fell, their headlights cutting sharp tunnels through the mist.

At the front, Sukira’s van rumbled steadily. Risha pressed his nose against the window, leaving smudges on the glass as the first signs of Velmore came into view, Cloud snored at the back of the car. Dominique sat silent, her good eye sharp on the town ahead, while Eloise kept her gaze low, fingers gripping the seat as though the city’s very aura pressed on her. Sukira drove without a word, knuckles tight on the wheel.

Behind them, Jeda’s car kept a steady distance. The engine purred lower than the van’s, built for speed more than endurance. Elon leaned against the passenger window, watching the sigils etched into the cliffside buildings, fascinated by the faint pulses of light they gave off. Jeda tapped the steering wheel in rhythm with some tune only he could hear. “Welcome to Velmore,” he called over the engine, though Elon gave no reply, too absorbed in studying the city’s layered magic.

Sami’s motorcycle howled as she kicked up sparks on the stone road, weaving lazily from side to side as though taunting the night itself. Her red hair whipped behind her like a flag. She raised a hand in a half-mocking salute when the main gates appeared ahead. Unlike the rest, she didn’t slow when the gates opened—she gunned the throttle and shot forward first, like someone returning home.

The road curved, and then Velmore unfurled before them. A city of contradictions: ancient walls carved with sigils, their grooves glowing faintly red, while neon signs flickered above cybernetic workshops and taverns overflowing with mercenaries. Smokestacks bled into the damp air, mixing the metallic tang of oil with the sharper scent of iron-rich blood. It was loud, restless, alive—half prayer, half machine.

The gates swallowed them, and suddenly they were in the thick of it. Market stalls crowded the streets, alive at the middle of the night, selling charms against Calamities, scraps of parchment scrawled with runes, jars of dried herbs, bottled ash, right beside weapons powered by alchemical cores or glittering tattoos being etched into living flesh by humming needles. 

Mercenaries with mechanical arms bartered for contracts in the open. Hooded priests whispered blessings under their breath in the middle of the streets. Barefoot children ran around, stained with blood, laughing loudly as they carried offerings of smoke and salt to drive the spirits away.

“This place is…” Eloise whispered, paling.

“Alive,” Jeda’s voice crackled through the van's side. The girls were unloading the car in front of a gray building. “I’m suuure you wanted to say just that, right, cutie?”

“Cut it, asshole.” Dominique removed Jeda from Eloise's side. “Velmore it's a complicated city. It's okay to feel a bit overwhelmed, Eloise”. 

“Glowing!” Risha bounced while stepping out of the car, unable to look away.

Sami’s gaze stayed forward, unreadable. “Don’t mistake the lights for safety. This city’s been breathing out of Calamities for centuries. And everyone here knows how to sell you protection from them.”

Dominique’s lips pressed thin. “Fear turned into commerce. Typical of you, Velmorians. I heard you are from here.”

“You didn’t hear, brat, I told you. And yes, I was born and raised here.” Sami corrected her like a mother with a rebel child. 

Elon studied the sigils carved into every doorway and bridge arch, he murmured. “This is infrastructure built from faith itself.”

Sami glanced back at him, a smirk tugging at her mouth. “You’ll get used to it,” she called, voice carrying even over the noise of the street. “People here are closer to dark magic, not as a bad thing… but it runs deep, I’m not gonna lie.”

The last of the luggage hit the curb with a heavy thump, and Jeda stretched his arms wide in front of the gray stone building, like a host unveiling a grand surprise.

“Well,” he announced, voice booming over the street noise, “here it is. Welcome to Velmore, people! Your brand-new palace, all for us. An entire floor—living room, kitchen, six bedrooms, balcony with a view. Make yourselves at home.” Jeda gave an exaggerated bow, hand sweeping toward the entrance.

Sukira’s brow twitched. “Following days?” she repeated, crossing her arms. “For how long are we planning to stay here?”

Jeda tilted his head, grin never faltering. “A week.”

“A week?” Sukira’s tone sharpened. “That wasn’t the agreement.”

“Relax, boss,” Jeda countered smoothly, brushing past her toward the door. “This city’s a labyrinth. We need supplies, information, maybe a few tattoos if we want to survive the next stretch. Rushing through would be suicide.”

Fishy.

Sami cut her engine and swung off her bike, shaking out her hair. “He’s right”.

Risha, still glued to the glowing skyline, tugged at Sukira’s sleeve. “A whole week? Can I have the room with the biggest window?”

“You can do as you please,” Sukira muttered, but the faintest sigh slipped from her.

Inside, the apartment floor was spacious by Velmore standards—high ceilings arched with stone, sigils carved into the beams to keep out pests, Calamities, and thieves. The mix of sleek vampire tech and ancient wood furniture gave it the strange air of a place both modern and haunted.

Dominique immediately began inspecting the locks and windows, her hand trailing over the glass panes. Eloise, frowning, tested the kitchen water and nearly gagged at its metallic tang. Risha ran from room to room until Cloud finally barked, herding him back like a sheepdog.

Elon lingered in the living room, eyes drawn to the shiny glowing symbols in the walls. He touched one, just lightly, then pulled his hand back. “Even inside homes...”

Jeda clapped him on the shoulder, dropping his bag to the floor. “Exactly. Which means this one’s as safe as they come. So pick a room. I’ll take the one nobody wants. I need to head off for a bit, now. Night.” 

♥︎

June 19th 15.001.  

Velmore City, Umbra [Vampire Continent]

Velmore Apartment, Morning

The apartment was too quiet for a city that roared outside. Beyond the windows, neon bled through the curtains in restless colors, but inside, Dominique sat stiff in her chair, arms folded as if holding herself together. Her one good eye stayed unfocused, fixed on nothing.

Sukira noticed. She always noticed. The way Dominique flinched when footsteps echoed in the hallway. The way she blinked too slowly, as though sleep stalked her but never caught her. The way her fingers kept grazing the empty space where her left eye had once been.

“Up. Both of you. We’re training.” As usual, she commanded it. 

Risha scrambled to his feet immediately, eyes shining. “Yes! Training time!” He shouted, bouncing on his toes like a little sergeant. “Okay, Domi, first exercise—you balance, like this!” He stood on one leg, wobbling, arms pinwheeling.

Dominique’s brow arched, but she didn’t move. “You’re joking.”

Risha puffed out his cheeks. “Not joking! Look—I’ll show you. One foot. Then breathe, slow. Slower. You can’t wobble, or she’ll make you start over.”

Sukira folded her arms, tone like iron. “He’s right. Stand up.”

For a heartbeat, Dominique considered refusing—habit, pride, exhaustion, all at war inside her. But Risha’s expectant grin was impossible to meet with a cold no. With a sharp sigh, she rose, smoothing her coat.

“This is humiliating.” Dominique was struggling more than she would dare to admit. 

Risha hopped beside her, demonstrating exaggeratedly. “See? It seems easy, but it's not thaaat easy.”

Dominique lifted one leg. Her balance faltered almost instantly; she caught herself against the wall. 

“Not bad! But you wobbled. Start over.” Risha clapped anyway.

“Risha—” Sukira started, understanding that Dominique was dealing with something bigger, readjusting her whole body balance. But Dominique cut in, her lips twitching. “No. He’s right. Those are the rules,” She lifted her leg again, this time steadier.

Elon, leaning against the doorframe with his usual unreadable stare, muttered, “Strange therapy.”

Sukira shot him a glance sharp enough to silence him.

The exercises went on: balance, breath control, some jumps, simple stances. Nothing lethal, nothing strenuous—just enough to remind Dominique her body still listened to her. Her pride stayed intact by pretending she was “humoring” them, but Sukira could see the tension leaving her shoulders one breath at a time.

Risha, oblivious to the shadows he was helping banish, cheered her through every step.“Perfect! See? If you keep training, you might become stronger than me.”

Dominique smirked faintly, sweat glistening on her brow. “Not yet, little wolf. But soon.”

Sukira’s eyes softened for half a second before hardening again. 

When they finally collapsed onto the floor, Risha panting like a dog, Dominique’s voice was dry but lighter. “Fine. You’ve made your point. I can still stand on one leg.”

Sukira leaned back against the wall, arms crossed. “Point was you’re not broken. Keep showing me I’m right.”

Dominique met her gaze. For a heartbeat, no sarcasm, no mask, just raw gratitude flickered there. Then it was gone, buried under her usual cool.

♥︎

June 21st 15.001.  

Velmore Markets, Velmore City, Umbra [Vampire Continent]

The streets of Velmore were louder in daylight. Neon signs fought against the gray sky, flickering with runes for blood banks, tattoo parlors, alchemy workshops, and weapons shops. Steam hissed from pipes under the cobblestones. The air was thick with incense, hot metal, and the faint, metallic tang of blood.

“Please, please. I’m dying to meet the Velmore city market,” Eloise begged while finishing breakfast. “I’ve read so many things about it. I don’t even know when I’ll have another opportunity to go there, please.”

“I’ll escort the princess,” Sami declared, already slinging her jacket on. She jerked a thumb toward Eloise.

Eloise blinked. “Really?”

Sami grinned. “You’ll faint if you go out there alone.”

Sukira raised an eyebrow but didn’t argue. “Fine. Don’t get lost.”

They dove into the crowd together, Eloise pressed close to Sami’s side as voices clashed around them—vendors yelling prices, mercenaries laughing, the occasional hiss of a spell being tested in a booth.

Eloise wrinkled her nose. “It smells like… rust. And smoke.”

“Blood and copper,” Sami corrected casually. “Velmore perfume.” She threw an arm around Eloise’s shoulders, steering her toward a line of stalls. “Keep close. People here will sell you a broken spoon if you blink too long.”

They passed a tattoo store where a man had glowing lines carved into his whole body, even eyelids sparked of blue light dancing along his veins. Eloise flinched, staring.

Sami leaned down, her voice a murmur in her ear. “Don’t stare. They’ll think you’re either interested or challenging them. I don't know which one could be worse.”

Eloise swallowed. “Do you… like this city?”

Sami snorted. “Like it? No. But it made me. It’s in my blood. And blood always calls you back.”

Eloise said nothing, but she didn’t resist when Sami pulled her closer, guiding her through the maze.

At a mineral vendor’s stall, Eloise paused. Her eyes flicked across jars filled with powders in every shade: deep emerald dust, silver flecks like ground starlight, ash so fine it seemed to hover. “This one,” she said suddenly, pointing at a jar of shimmering white dust. “Do you have more of it?”

The vendor squinted at her. “Rare cut. Harvested from the bones of leviathan serpents. Restores what’s been broken, if you can handle the chemistry.”

Eloise’s hand trembled slightly as she held out coins. “I’ll take it.”

This dust mixed with some old magic can regrow an organ. Eloise tucked it into her basket.

Sami didn’t laugh out loud, but the smirk on her lips said enough. Of course. The princess wants to give her knight her eye back.

By midday, they had bags of food, ink, medicine, and even electronic pieces that Eloise insisted were useless, but Sami bought anyway. The two of them laughed as Sami haggled with a vendor so aggressively that Eloise nearly dropped her basket. Eloise’s cheeks flushed, the sound of her own laughter catching her off guard.

♥︎

Velmore Apartment – Evening

The door swung open. Sami dumped the bags onto the table with a grunt. “Supplies, secured. Princess, safe and sound.” She reported to Sukira like a soldier returning from a mission, with a playful tone only those who truly knew her could use. Sukira rolled her eyes, scanning them both before going back to her novel.

Eloise followed behind her, cheeks pink, carrying the last bag with both arms.

Dominique looked up from the couch. For a flicker of a second, her lips pressed into a thin line, her single eye darting from Eloise’s smile to Sami’s casual arm draped over her shoulder as they entered. She said nothing, only stood up to help sort through the groceries.

Sukira noticed, of course. But she didn’t comment.

Sami, feigning ignorance, looked at her friend and spoke loud and clear so the whole apartment could hear. “See? Easy. Nobody fainted, nobody died. Ten out of ten.”

Eloise's smile lingered as she slipped into the kitchen with Dominique.

Dominique followed with a crate of herbs, setting it on the counter with more force than necessary. “Did you enjoy yourself?”

Eloise blinked at her tone, surprised.“I… yes. It wasn’t as awful as I thought.”

“Good for you,” Dominique muttered, unpacking glass jars too quickly.

Eloise frowned. “Why do you say it like that?”

Dominique glanced at her, confused. “Like what?”

“Like… you didn’t mean it.”

Dominique hesitated, lips parting, then closed them again. She turned back to the herbs. “Forget it. I just meant—it’s good you found it less awful than you expected. That’s all.”

Eloise tilted her head, still frowning, but didn’t push. She went back to arranging the jars. 

The kitchen had an open counter that connected it to the living room. Sami and Sukira couldn’t take their eyes off the teenagers. Sami offered a piece of dried fruit as they listened to the girls’ interaction in complete silence.

Jeda, lounging on the arm of the couch, clicked his tongue. In contrast to the vampire silent admirers, he went out and loud: “How precious. Our little healer buying miracle dust in Velmore’s back alleys. Let me guess—” he grinned wide, “—you’re planning to fix something that can’t be fixed? 

Eloise spun, scandalized. “It’s not—!”

Dominique, as usual, tried to protect Eloise from Jeda’s mockery. “She bought medicine, idiot, she always does that. What's the big deal?”

“Dominique, you are so stupid sometimes. She bought that dust to heal old wounds. Not new ones.” He was getting nervous at their obliviousness. “You two really don’t hear yourselves, do you? Eloise comes home pink-cheeked with miracle ash in her bag, Dominique sulks like someone stole her toy, and you both act like it’s about the weather. Oh, it’s so obvious you two are—”

Sukira crossed the room with her void and smacked Jeda in the chest with the back of her hand, hard enough to make him hit the wall behind him, before he could finish. “If it’s so obvious, then there’s no need for you to say it out loud.”

Color flushed across Eloise’s face while she headed to her room. Dominique’s hand froze on the counter while looking at her leaving.

Jeda raised both hands in mock surrender, grin unrepentant. 

Sami crunched her dried fruit, amused. “Drama. I missed this.”

♥︎

Later That Night – Velmore Apartment

Everyone else had long gone to bed, but Eloise lingered at the counter, fingers tracing the jar of mineral dust she’d bought, book opened next to it.

A door creaked from the end of the hallway. Dominique stepped in, hair down, coat thrown over her shoulders. She opened the cabinet and pulled out a glass like she owned the silence.

“You’re still awake?” she asked, voice low, not looking at Eloise.

Eloise startled, pulling her hand back from the jar. “I… couldn’t sleep.”

Dominique poured water, then glanced sideways. “Because of what Jeda said?”

Eloise froze. “…Maybe.”

Dominique shrugged, sipping her glass. “He’s an idiot. Don’t let him get in your head.”

Eloise bit her lip, then blurted, “But he was right. About the dust. I wasn’t buying it for myself.”

Dominique stiffened. “I know that you would never buy something for yourself. What’s this magical dust for then that everyone’s making such a big thing outa of it?”

Eloise blinked at her, baffled. “Isn’t it obvious?”

“Don’t make me feel dumb.” Dominique’s good eye narrowed, defeated. “If it was obvious to me, I wouldn’t be asking.”

The words hung heavy. Eloise opened her mouth, then closed it again. Her heart thumped like it wanted out of her chest. Say it. Say it’s for her. No—don’t. What if she misunderstands? What if she laughs? “You are not dumb, I’m sorry,” She swallowed. “It’s… for someone who deserves a second chance. That’s all.”

Dominique set her glass down harder than necessary. “I see. Well, they say it won’t work anyway, so why is it bothering so much?” The words shot out like arrows. 

Eloise’s face fell. “I’m not bothered. What I want is to...”,she couldn’t speak the words. 

“What is it that you want?” Dominique looked at her with the most innocent expression. 

“I—” Eloise faltered, fumbling with her thoughts, too many answers crowding her head. I want to give you your eye back. I want you stop suffering because of my lack of power. I want to show you I care too much and don’t know how to stop.  “I… don’t know.”

Dominique exhaled sharply, dragging a hand through her hair. “You overthink everything, Eloise. Drives me insane.”

Silence. Then, unexpectedly, Dominique laughed—short, bitter, but real. “Let’s sneak into Risha’s bedroom, like the old days.”

Eloise’s chest tightened. She wanted to argue, to explain, to fix the sting in Dominique’s voice. But all she managed was a whisper: “...okay.”

Dominique turned away first, grabbing her glass with one hand and Eloise with the other.

She never lets me finish my train of thought. 

♥︎

June 22nd 15.001.  

Velmore City, Umbra [Vampire Continent]

Velmore Apartment, Morning

The smell of fried dough and bitter coffee filled the kitchen. Sami stood at the stove, hair tied back, while Risha and Cloud fought over the last toast at the table.

Dominique sat unusually quiet, her coat draped over her shoulders, though the apartment was warm. Eloise sipped her tea, trying not to meet anyone’s eyes.

Risha, mouth full, piped up cheerfully: “Oh! By the way, Domi and Eloise were so scared last night, they snuck into my room to sleep with me. Like—both of them! Cloud took the floor.”

Suki nearly choked on her coffee. Elon just looked at them. 

Eloise’s cheeks flared crimson. “Risha—!”

Dominique’s head snapped up, but instead of denial, she smirked lazily, eye narrowing at Sami. “What can I say? This place is the worst.”

Risha nodded seriously. “They said it was like the old days. But I think it’s ‘cause they were afraid.”

Eloise buried her face in her cup. Why do children always remember the wrong details?

Jeda leaned across the table, grinning. “Afraid of what, exactly? Velmore shadows? Or…” 

Before he could say more, Sami turned from the stove, knife still in hand. “Eat your breakfast, Jeda. If it’s so funny, you can laugh with a full stomach.”

He lifted his hands in mock surrender. “What? I’m just trying to keep the mornings lively.”

Sami leaned on her elbow, smirking. “Oh, you’re keeping them lively, alright.”

♥︎

June 23rd 15.001.  

Velmore City, Umbra [Vampire Continent]

Jeda slipped on his jacket. “Alright, I’m heading out. Got some contacts to visit.”

Risha shouted from the living room when they were practicing balance once again. “Can I gooOo?!”. Sukira grabbed him before he could move. 

He saluted mockingly and slipped out the door.

The dark air swallowed him immediately. Velmore had only a few hours of sunshine, even in summer, but the city was always alive in every corner, buzzing with neon and muttered prayers. The streets smelled of oil, incense, and that permanent metallic tang of blood. 

Perfect playground. He didn’t get three blocks before he felt it. That little itch at the back of his neck. Someone following.

He smirked without turning around. Let me guess. Handsome, brooding stare, lovely figure.

Sure enough, when Jeda turned a sharp corner of apartment blocks stacked over one another along a narrow alley, he caught the faintest flicker of white hair in the reflective shop window, confirming his suspicions.

He chuckled under his breath. Well, well. Prince Sunshine thinks he’s sneaky.

Instead of confronting him outright, Jeda decided to have some fun, leading Elon on a ridiculous tour of Velmore’s underbelly.

First, he ducked into a weapons vendor’s stall. The air reeked of gunpowder and beast-oil, blades and enchanted cartridges glinting under lights. Jeda pretended to test the balance of a cleaver before slipping out the back. Elon passed through stiffly, ignoring the vendor’s hawking, and when he emerged, Jeda was already heading to the next place on his list.

Next stop: a barber’s shop, smoke curling from the doorway. Jeda plopped himself into a chair like he owned the place. A half-vampire with silver hair and lots of piercings sheared a quick line down his hair while Jeda winked at his “stalker” through the mirror. Elon’s jaw tightened, not pretty sure if what he just witnessed was real; he still followed him out.

And finally—a shop cluttered with prank supplies: smoke bombs, illusion charms, false blood packets for scaring drunks. Jeda pocketed a handful of fake fangs. A sudden ‘boom’ came from the following alley, and Elon, in shock by the sound, lost Jeda from his sight completely.  

“Are you lost, handsome?” He tried placing the fake fangs into Elon’s mouth, as he clung to him from behind. 

That was when Elon’s patience cracked. “…you were messing with me.”

Jeda grinned wider. “Took you long enough to figure it out.”

Elon started walking away. “You should be more discreet if you actually want to gather information.”

“Ohhh,” Jeda drawled, falling into step beside him, “so the royal stalker talks. Thought you were just gonna hover behind me like some lovesick ghost.”

Elon shot him a sidelong look, cold as stone. “Don’t flatter yourself.”

Jeda grinned, unfazed. “Why not? You’re definitely my type.” He winked. “Joke’s on you—you’ll have to come with me now.” He caught Elon’s arm and tugged him left into a narrower street.

They moved deeper into Velmore, the streets shrinking into old metal corridors covered in glowing sigils. Children jumped from one building to another, that’s how close the structures were; from the street, you could barely see the sky. Murmurs rose from shadowed doorways, mercenaries watching them as they passed. Elon’s hand twitched more than once, on the verge of casting a spell.

“You always this jumpy?” Jeda asked lightly.

“I’m not jumpy. I’m cautious.”

“You are a fuckin’ sourcerer, you don't need to be cautious,” Jeda countered. He pulled an apple from a stall without paying, bit into it, and tossed the vendor a coin without looking. “You know, for a magic-powered prince, you’re awfully boring.”

Elon stopped walking, turning to him fully. “Why did you bring me here, Jeda?”

“Me?” Jeda spread his arms, grinning. “I didn’t bring you anywhere. You followed me.”

Elon’s frown deepened, but before he could reply, Jeda suddenly crouched low, running his fingers over a sigil carved into the wall. He blew a puff of air, and the chalky rune shimmered faintly before crumbling away. Elon stiffened, already raising his hand to cast—

Jeda burst out laughing. “Relax, genius. It’s fake. Kids scrawl these all over to spook tourists. Blessings, the look on your face.”

Elon’s palm still glowed with magic. His eyes narrowed. “That wasn’t funny.”

“Sure it was,” Jeda shot back, wiping tears of laughter from his eyes. “You looked like you were about to incinerate half the block over a doodle.”

Elon’s hand fell back to his side, slow and deliberate. “…You’re insufferable.”

“I get that often,” Jeda replied easily.

They walked a few more blocks in silence. The noise of Velmore surrounded them—vendors hawking charms, a mercenary band clashing swords in drunken practice, the hiss of pipes leaking steam overhead. Elon’s shoulders stayed tense, but his steps never slowed.

Finally, Jeda broke the silence with a shrug. “Look, if you’re that curious, stick around. Maybe you’ll even learn something about this city besides how it smells.”

Elon didn’t answer at first. His gaze lingered on the runes glowing faintly along the bridge arch above them, layers of old faith turned into architecture. Then, finally, he said, “You act like you belong here.”

Jeda smirked, biting into his apple again. “I’ll take that as a compliment.” He gestured around at the chaos of neon, concrete and metal, merchants and mercenaries. 

Elon studied him for a long moment, then nodded once. “It's hard to tell if you are really an idiot or it's just your awful personality.”

Jeda barked a laugh. “Careful, Prince. You are making me feel you wanna get to know me better.”

For the first time all day, Elon’s mouth curved—barely, but there. “Don’t push it.”

“Too late.” Jeda grinned wider. “Hey, let’s have a drink before heading back.”

They entered a cramped tavern, the kind where the floorboards stuck to your boots and the air stinks of cheap alcohol, sweat, and something sourer. Candles burned in melted heaps on every table, casting more smoke than light.

At the far corner, a broad-shouldered vampire with tattoos creeping up his neck leaned back in his chair, tarot cards spread across the table. His crimson eyes flicked up as Jeda approached.

“Velmore’s favorite bastard,” the man rumbled, voice gravelly. “Didn’t think you’d crawl back here. You are either bold or stupid.”

Ah. I'm both. Jeda spread his arms like a performer. “What can I say, Varro? I missed your smile.”

The man didn’t smile.

Elon stayed a step behind, watching. Of course, we weren’t just having a drink.

But Jeda leaned down on the table, right into Varro’s personal space, grinning like they were old friends. “Heard whispers,” he said lightly. “Merchants moving through Ravelyn’s Alley have gone quiet. Too quiet. Last caravan’s bones still warm when they were found. You wouldn’t know anything about that, would you?”

Varro’s lip curled. “Depends. Who’s asking?”

Jeda shrugged, loud enough for the whole table to hear. “No one important. Just a guy trying to keep his skin intact when he passes through that way.”

Varro’s men chuckled darkly, but Jeda didn’t bother. His hand toyed with a coin, flipping it over and over between his fingers. Distraction. Elon noticed his other hand resting casually near his belt—not on his sword, but on a folded piece of parchment with faint runes glowing along the edge. At least he came prepared. 

Varro leaned forward. “Whispers cost coin.”

Jeda hit the coin toward him. It clattered onto the table, spinning, spinning, until it fell flat on a card he placed. The King of Swords.

Varro stared at it. Then he grunted. “Ravelyn’s Alley isn’t safe. Something moves in the forest. Not bandits. Something old. Even the mid-courses avoid it. That’s all I’ll say for that shitty coin.”

Jeda’s grin didn’t falter. “That’s plenty. Much appreciated.” He clapped Varro on the shoulder like they were brothers, then straightened. “Keep smiling, Varro. It suits you.”

The big vampire’s eyes glinted, but he said nothing as Jeda left.

♥︎

After a shot of vodka, they went outside. Elon followed in silence until the tavern’s stench was behind them. Finally, he spoke. “You acted like a fool in there.”

Jeda glanced at him, smirk crooked. “That’s the trick. People lower their guard around fools.”

He tapped the parchment tucked back at his belt. “Besides, if things went south, that rune would’ve brought the whole ceiling down. I am a strategist.”

Elon’s eyes narrowed, studying him. “So which one are you, then?”

Jeda flashed his grin again. “Both. Why pick?”

The night pressed heavier as they left the tavern behind, heading back through narrower alleys where the neon didn’t reach.

Elon stayed a step behind, silent. He felt something. Jeda hummed to himself, casual as ever.

Then a voice slipped out of the shadows. Low. Coded.

“Seven-two.”

Jeda stopped instantly, grin fading, his eyes narrowing just a fraction. He tilted his head toward the darkness between two stone arches. “Three-nine,” he replied smoothly.

A figure shifted from the gloom, hood drawn low, face never revealed. Their voice carried no emotion, only urgency. “News from Concordia. Elections moved forward. Two years early. Pro-peace government is finished. New candidates already backed by the warmongers.”

Jeda’s smirk twitched back into place, but his eyes didn’t match it this time. He gave a short nod. “Understood.”

The figure melted back into the alley without another word.

For a long heartbeat, the only sound was the hiss of the pipes. Elon stared, expression unreadable, but his fists clenched inside his coat pockets. So this is what he’s really doing.

Jeda turned suddenly, grabbing Elon’s arm with uncharacteristic seriousness. “We’re done. Let’s go back. Quickly.”

Elon didn’t resist.

They moved fast through the alleys, boots thudding against the damp and filthy floor. The playful air from earlier had drained out of Jeda’s steps. Elon noticed it immediately.

“What was that about?” Elon asked, his tone clipped.

“Nothing you need to lose sleep over,” Jeda muttered.

“That’s not an answer.” Elon’s golden eyes narrowed. “Concordia. Elections moved forward. Why should you care? If Elexi is really here, it does not matter who’s in charge.”

Jeda sighed, rubbing the back of his neck like he was already tired of the conversation. “You always this curious, Sunshine?”

Elon looked at him dead serious, not reacting to his teasing attempt. 

“Fine.” Jeda’s grin returned, but thinner, like paper over stone. “There’s a party in Concordia—calls itself Prowar.” He said the name like a curse. “Started small. Nobody took ‘em seriously. But they’ve been clawing their way up, promising to bring humanity back to their so-called ‘great days’… with the help of greater Calamities.”

Elon’s brows furrowed. 

Jeda continued, “What should we care, you asked. It matters to us because Elexi is still not here. It might never arrive. It might arrive and be taken down by Sukira, who the hell knows? But Concordia’s changing government is something real; it's happening right now. We need to be ready. Prowar’s the antithesis of everything the Elite stands for. Where we’re trying to stitch races together, they wanna tear ‘em apart. Glory for humans, chains for everyone else. They’re loud, they’re proud, and now they might be getting votes.”

Elon fell silent for a moment, mind ticking. “If the pro-peace government is already falling, then La Paz is—”

“—in deep shit,” Jeda finished, grinning without humor. “That’s why we don’t stroll when someone whispers news like that. It’s not just politics, sorcerer. It’s the storm warning.”

Elon studied him, the question on his tongue heavier than before. “So that’s what you’re really doing out here. Not contacts for weapons. Not drinking buddies. You’re running intelligence.”

Jeda flashed him a wolfish grin. “Told you I wasn’t just an idiot.”

♥︎

Velmore Apartment, Night

Dinner left the apartment buzzing. Eloise disappeared with a book, Dominique left to sleep immediately, tired from training, Risha begged to watch a movie, Cloud already sprawled at his feet. Sami stretched and announced she was “claiming first shower before anyone else stinks up the place.”

Elon rose quietly, eyes on the sliding door that led to the balcony. The night air was faintly visible through the glass, carrying the hum of Velmore’s endless noise. Sukira was out there, leaning on the rail, cigarette in hand, but not glowing, yet.

He took a step. But a strong hand clamped around his arm.

“Oh, you wish”, Jeda said, grin sharp in the low light. “It’s my turn.”

Elon’s jaw tightened. “What?”

“Pact, remember?” Jeda winked. “We take turns bothering our beautiful, dangerous girl. You had the night after the attack on Bloodmark. I’m up.”

“Fine.” Elon’s nostrils flared, but he yanked his arm free and turned stiffly away. His voice was clipped. “Risha, put on the movie. I’ll join you.”

The boy cheered, oblivious, while Elon’s eyes looked once—only once—toward the balcony before entering the boy’s room, already filled with the light from the screen.

She didn’t turn when Jeda joined her, closing the glass door behind them.

“Persistent,” she said flatly.

“Need a lit?”. He stole the cigarette right out of her hand, fired it, inhaled, and exhaled with a satisfied grin. He returned the cig back to her and dropped himself into a cheap plastic chair with a creak, legs sprawled.

“You think you’re clever?” Sukira muttered. “I know what you’re trying to do.”

Jeda smirked, “I’d be surprised if you didn’t. I’m not trying to hide anything from you.”

She turned. “You want me for intel. You’ll poke and prod until you can recruit me.”

“No.” He pulled her hand closer to his face, sucked on her cigarette, directly from Sukira's hand, gaze steady on hers. “I am trying to use you. That’s true. But I’d never try to recruit you.”

Sukira tilted her head, skeptical. She tapped ash over the balcony.  

Jeda leaned forward, elbows on his knees. “You’ve got something bigger going on. I’ll get that. I won’t try to pull you away from that; I might even help you.”

He stole the cigarette from her hand and gave it a long inhale. 

Sukira stepped closer to him, plucking the cigarette from Jeda’s lips and letting the smoke trail between them. “You’re a terrible liar.”

“Didn’t lie,” he said simply, grinning wider. “I want you. But not as a soldier.”

She lowered her gaze, noticing the scar that ran from above his upper lip down into his chin, a diagonal cut crossing his mouth —a scar she had given him when they first met. She brushed it with the pad of her finger, deliberately. “Nobody offered you healing that day.”

Jeda chuckled low, grabbing her hips suddenly, pulling her closer between his knees. “It's okay. I kinda like pain. And I like souvenirs.”

The cigarette burned low between her fingers. She pressed it back into his mouth, hovering over him, voice a whisper edged with steel. “I don’t have anything for you.”

“You’re also a terrible liar,” Jeda repeated, voice low, stealing the cigarette from her one more time. 

Sukira’s gaze stayed locked on his, unreadable. She removed the cigarette from his mouth and crushed it against the ashtray, “The end. Nice chat.”

He didn’t let go. For a moment, neither moved. The city murmured around them, neon bleeding through the night, their silence tense like wire.

“Let’s smoke another”. He pointed to the pack of cigs on the small plastic table next to him. 

Then Sukira stepped back, slipping from his grip as smoothly as water. “Don’t waste your turn on me, Jeda.”

Jeda leaned back in the chair. He lit himself another cig. “Never mind, eventually, you’ll get tired of saying no.”

Sukira left without another word, the glass door shut behind her. Jeda stayed sprawled in the plastic chair, smoke fading, touching the scarred mouth.

Inside, Elon’s eyes stumbled up from the movie, catching the shadow of her figure walking down the hall back to her room. 

♥︎

June 24th 15.001.  

Velmore City, Umbra [Vampire Continent]

Velmore Apartment, Morning

The apartment was quiet except for the distant buzz of Velmore’s streets bleeding in through the glass. Sukira had gone out to check the van, Sami was still asleep, Dominique sprawled on the couch with Cloud at her feet, and Eloise was in the kitchen scribbling notes from one of her books.

Jeda had disappeared early with a muttered “errands,” probably scouting the markets for gossip, and Elon sat on the balcony with his notebook open, pretending to read but really just staring at the skyline.

Which was why nobody noticed at first when Risha slipped out.

It wasn’t until Eloise glanced at the clock, “He’s been awfully quiet,” that Dominique sat up, her expression sharpening. “Where is he?”

A frantic search began. Bedrooms, bathroom, balcony, and even the rooftop. Sami stumbled out of her room, muttering curses as she checked the stairwell. Eloise’s voice trembled sharply with each call of his name. Dominique stormed from room to room, throwing open doors like she might catch him hiding.

Cloud barked, whining at the door.

“He’s gone,” Dominique snapped, turning on her heel. “He left. Damn it, he left.”

Eloise’s face paled. “We should split up—”

Her words cut off when Elon’s phone buzzed on the coffee table. He crossed the room in two strides, flipped the screen, and read a single text.

He tried to hide the smile. “She’s with him.”

“Did she say something?” Sami asked, calmer now. 

“No. Just a location”. 

Relief cracked through the tension, but only barely. Dominique grabbed her coat, already heading for the door. “Then let’s move. Now.”

The shop smelled of ink, iron, and hot stone. Runes glowed across the walls, the working of enchanted needles filling the air. Risha stood at the counter, wide-eyed, his hands clasped behind his back as he stared at a vampire covered in glowing lines that pulsed with his heartbeat.

“These can make you stronger, sir?” he asked eagerly. “Like… safer?”

The tattooist smirked, crouching so he was level with him. “They can do many things. But they hurt. A lot. And for someone your size, it could twist you instead of helping.”

Risha’s face fell, but his curiosity didn’t waver, he thought about all the adults that take care of him. “But everyone has them…”

The door opened. Her eyes locked on him like a hawk. “Risha.”

He froze. “…Hi.”

The group stumbled in, one by one, breathless from their rushed walk. The noise of machines filled the space, blue-white sparks flashing as a tattooist etched lines into a mercenary’s arms. Risha stood right at the counter, eyes wide, mouth hanging open in awe.

Sukira stood in the corner, arms crossed, waiting for the others to catch up before delivering the scolding.

Elon strode to her side first, his voice low and cutting. “How did you find him so fast?”

Her gaze slid to him. “I didn’t find him. I never lost him.”

He smiled.

Risha radiated magical energy in a way that was impossible to ignore for her. Raw, untrained, endless, he was a walking beacon burning through the city. Anyone who knew how to sense such things could follow him without effort. Elon had learned to bury his own power long ago with sigils, jewelry, enchantments—every tool to dull the trace he left behind. But Risha had no such defenses. His very presence was a flare in the night.

“…So you let him walk out?” Dominique asked, not understanding why Sukira would let him do that.

Before she could answer, Eloise stormed forward, voice trembling with fury. “You let him wander around Velmore alone? Do you have any idea what could have happened? And now—now he’s just standing there watching someone get a tattoo? What were you thinking?”

Sukira didn’t bother. “I was thinking I’d rather know where his feet take him than drag him back before he can get to know the real world.”

“That’s not an excuse!” Eloise snapped, cheeks flushed. “He’s a child!! You don’t test him with danger!”

Dominique’s voice cut in.“I can’t scold him, I was so frikin' scared.” She ran back to hug him. 

Risha glanced back, guilt flickering across his face. “Don’t—”

“Quiet,” Dominique barked.

Sami stepped in next. “Honestly, I think it’s hilarious. The kid sneaks out for a tattoo like half the teenagers in this city. Classic Velmore. But still dumb as hell.” She crouched to the kid's level, now closer to the group as Dominique took him back, tapping his nose: “Don’t do it again. You don’t even have the skin for it yet.”

Risha blinked. “…the skin?”

“Shut up, Riri,” Dominique snapped again.

Finally, Jeda piped up from the doorway, drawling. “Honestly? I’m proud. Takes guts to slip past an assassin, a sorcerer, and three overprotective aunts. Kid’s got potential.”

“Don’t praise him,” Sukira muttered. “And he didn’t pass me.” 

Jeda shrugged. “Hey, danger builds character.”

Elon shot him a glare. “This isn’t a joke.”

“Oh, relax, Sunshine,” Jeda said, grinning. “He has a growing curiosity, and he wants to belong. You can’t scold him for that.”

The group fell silent, the buzzing of needles filling the space. 

“Since we are already here… I’ll have something.” Jeda broke the silence. 

“I might as well”, Sami followed him.

They gathered around the counter. Eloise was still angry about the whole situation and about how no one was really scolding Risha.

Sukira approached, “What if we all get a tracing sigil? Something simple. A gut feeling if the others are close, a proximity power, to always find each other.”

Risha’s eyes lit up. “So… like a family tattoo?”

Nobody answered right away. But slowly, Eloise nodded. Dominique loved the idea. Sami shrugged. Elon’s expression didn’t change, but he stepped forward anyway.

“Family tattoo,” Jeda said, grinning. “I like the sound of that.”

Risha took a moment and drew a house. “It's ready,” he shouted with pride. 

⾕

They each rolled up sleeves, pulled down collars, baring skin. The needles hummed as ink mixed with faint traces of magic etched the symbol into them. Sukira went first, setting her jaw without flinching. Jeda joked through his turn. Sami laughed as the ink burned her skin. Dominique stayed silent, eye sharp. Eloise winced but didn’t pull away.

Elon’s face was unreadable as the needle cut his skin, though his gaze flicked once toward Sukira. Nobody saw when he slipped a second request to the tattooist: a small, hidden rune, one-use only.

Risha went last, his version painless, a glow pressed gently onto his skin. He grinned as if he’d just been knighted.

When it was done, the tattooist leaned back, impressed. “Oddest family I’ve ever seen”

Risha beamed, bouncing on his toes. “I HAVE A TATTOOOOO!”

Dominique rolled her good eye and grabbed him by the wrist. “Yes, and you’re going to brag about it for the next year.” Eloise sighed, but she smiled as she looped her arm through his other. Together, the three of them headed back toward the apartment with Cloud trotting behind.

The rest stayed.

Tattoos were more than decoration; they were tools. Most fell into one of three categories:

1. Regular tattoos: common for healing or protection, their magic activates when needed and weakens with use until only a scar remains.

2. Single-use tattoos: designed for one powerful effect. Once activated, the ink went dark and couldn’t be reawakened. The design, however, remained — only its magic was wiped away.

3. Persistent tattoos: enhancements and boosters, marks of constant, lasting power that required periodic touch-ups to keep their trace strong.

   
   

For mercenaries and city-dwellers, tattoos were as normal as weapons. They could boost strength, sharpen reflexes, or simply serve as insurance. It wasn’t unusual for people to carry half a dozen at once, some glowing faintly under the skin, others long since burned out.

Sami dropped into the next chair, tugging up her sleeve to bare her forearm. “Touch-up. This one’s been dead since last winter.” She smiled at the others as the needle came to life. “Besides, gotta keep up appearances. Me running around with dead ink? Embarrassing.” Sami’s tattoos were almost invisible, done in white ink.

Jeda leaned on the counter, rolling his sleeve back to reveal a jagged line of faded script. “Same. Retouch this, and this, and—ah, screw it—let’s add something new. Big, flashy. Something that’ll make Sunshine here wince at me every time he sees it.” At the end, he added some enduring stars around his neck, chest and hands. 

Elon didn’t rise to the bait. He simply opened his shirt and spoke evenly. “A one-use.” 

The details were provided directly to the artist. The tattooist raised a brow but didn’t question it, pulling fresh ink into the needle.

Sukira remained last, standing by the wall with her arms folded until the others finished. Finally, she stepped forward and nodded once. “Refresh the ink from the poem. Keep the original design intact. I don’t need anything extra.”

She didn’t flinch once as the needle burned down her back.

♥︎

Velmore Streets – On the Way Back

The four walked in silence, the city glowing around them. Jeda joked half-heartedly about his “new and improved” tattoo catalog, Sami provided some tips for better healing, and Sukira said nothing at all.

Elon, however, stepped beside her, grabbing her softly. He made her slow down her pace to match his, leaving the others to stay ahead. 

“I want to tell you what I had,” he said quietly.

Sukira shook her head, gaze straight ahead. “Don’t.”

Honestly, he was shocked. “Why not?”

“Because I don’t want to know.” Her tone was flat, but there was weight beneath it. “Someday, when we fight again, I want you to have the right to surprise me. No ‘dirty’ tactics. No one holding back because the other knows their tricks.”

“Fight again?” He said it almost as a murmur, but it was heard. Elon’s jaw tightened. “It’s not dirty. It’s—”

“–advantage,” she cut him off. Mocking him, as she knew he wasn’t going to say that. “And I’m giving it to you. Keep it.”

For a heartbeat, he searched her face, like he could peel away her walls and see the truth beneath. But in the end, he only nodded once, sharp and controlled.

A few steps ahead, Jeda whispered to Sami, “She’s always been like this?”

Sami smirked. “Yes. But for some reason, she's worst with him.”

♥︎

June 25h 15.001.  

Velmore City, Umbra [Vampire Continent]

The table was crowded with plates: roasted meat, half-finished bowls of soup, and Risha’s attempt at arranging bread into the shape of mountains. The lamps overhead, fighting the neon glow seeping in through the balcony window.

Sukira tapped her glass once, cutting through the chatter. “So, a week has passed. Can we move on?”

“You are asking for my permission??” Jeda mocked her. 

“Finally,” Dominique muttered, pushing her plate aside.

“Where to?” Risha asked eagerly, though the bread mountains gave away his guess.

“Velmore Alps,” Jeda answered. “We’ll leave after breakfast. We should travel by daylight, fewer surprises.”

“The roads are open?”, Sukira asked. 

“Mostly,” Jeda said, leaning back in his chair. “Snow’s melted just enough for us to squeeze through the passes. Plus, I got us a highway pass.” He grinned. “Should be fun.”

“Fun…” Eloise repeated dryly.

Sami clinked her glass against hers. “Don’t worry, princess. I’ll drag you through the snow myself if I have to.” Dominique gave her a cold look, but tried not to overreact after the last scene they had a few days ago. 

Risha beamed. “I’ll help!”

Dominique rolled her eye. “You’ll be carried, wolf pup.”

Jeda laughed, clinking his cup against the bread. “To the Alps.”

♥︎